14th Dalai LamaIf you cannot stop worrying over something in the past or what might happen in the future, shift your focus to the inhalation and exhalation of your breath. Or recite this mantra: om mani padme hum. Since the mind cannot concentrate on two things simultaneously, either of these meditations causes the former worry to fade.
Like monkeys ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheWe are like monkeys who dwell in the forest and shit on the very branches from which we hang.
Nothing comparable ~ Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha ShakyamuniWhatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.
Practicing mahamudra in brief sessions ~ Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche
Khenpo Tsultrim RinpocheFor the beginning mahamudra practitioner, it is important to meditate in brief sessions. One way to do this is through singing Milarepa songs. One way to proceed is to sing a song and then rest briefly in the meditation. This is profound upaya for mahamudra practice, because what is pointed out in the songs is the view, meditation, conduct, and related areas, presented in the truly profound words of Milarepa. While singing, one is developing mindfulness of these, which then carries over into the meditation. And having rested for a brief time in meditation, one could then sing another song presenting view, meditation, conduct, and fruition from a somewhat different angle.
If you adopt this technique, your understanding of view, meditation, conduct, and fruition will develop and, not only that, these different aspects of the practice will develop together, in a simultaneous and integrated fashion. This is a profound method for practicing mahamudra in brief sessions.
The keys of view, meditation, and conduct ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheSamsara and enlightenment’s pervasive evenness is the view;
Within it, meditation is uncontrived settling in the natural state.
Conduct is to relax in non-activity.
Accept these as the keys of view, meditation, and conduct.
Inside, not outside ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahYou are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth – inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.
From a meditation point of view ~ Bokar Rinpoche
Bokar RinpocheWe generally think that happiness and suffering come from external circumstances… From the Buddhist point of view, as well as that of meditation, happiness and suffering do not fundamentally depend on external circumstances, but on the mind itself. A positive mental attitude engenders happiness; a negative attitude produces suffering.
Like the moon in rippling water ~ Chandrakirti
ChandrakirtiBeings are like the moon in rippling water,
Fitful, fleeting, empty in their nature.
Bodhisattvas see them thus and yearn to set them free.
Their wisdom is beneath compassion’s power.
Guru yoga ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheThe essence of guru yoga is simply to remember the guru at all times: when you are happy, think of the guru; when you are sad, think of the guru; when you meet favorable circumstances, be grateful to the guru; and when you meet obstacles, pray to the guru, and rely on him alone. When you are sitting, think of the guru above your head. When you are walking, imagine that he is above your right shoulder, as if you were circumambulating him. When you are eating food, visualize the guru at your throat center and offer him the first portion. Whenever you wear new clothes, first offer them to the guru, and then wear them as if he had given them back to you.
You’re always in the middle of the universe ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronPeople often say, ‘Meditation is all very well, but what does it have to do with my life?’ What it has to do with your life is that perhaps through this simple practice of paying attention – giving loving-kindness to your speech and your actions and the movements of your mind – you begin to realize that you’re always standing in the middle of a sacred circle, and that’s your whole life. This room is not the sacred circle. Wherever you go for the rest of your life, you’re always in the middle of the universe and the circle is always around you. Everyone who walks up to you has entered that sacred space, and it’s not an accident. Whatever comes into the space is there to teach you.
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Our idea of happiness ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhOur notions about happiness entrap us. We forget that they are just ideas. Our idea of happiness can prevent us from actually being happy. We fail to see the opportunity for joy that is right in front of us when we are caught in a belief that happiness should take a particular form.
Everything is dependently arising ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWhen we talk about emptiness, is has to be based on an understanding of the relativity of all things. Looking at ‘the reflection of the moon on water’, we can see that there is nothing there. Even that is dependently arisen, dependent on the existence of the moon and the water, on the ability of water to reflect. All of these things must come together to enable us to see the reflection of the moon on the water. That is emptiness. Emptiness and interdependence are inseparable. Everything is dependently arising; nothing exists on its own. Therefore, the nature of everything is emptiness. And because everything is emptiness and everything is interdependent, then everything is possible.
Merely an illusion ~ Albert Einstein
Albert EinsteinReality is merely an illusion – albeit a very persistent one.
The Emptiness of One Thing ~ Aryadeva
AryadevaWhoever has a perfect vision of one thing,
Has the perfect vision of all things,
For the emptiness of one thing
Is the emptiness of all things.
Song on the Six Perfections ~ Milarepa
MilarepaFor generosity, nothing to do,
Other than stop fixating on self.For morality, nothing to do,
Other than stop being dishonest.For patience, nothing to do,
Other than not fear what is ultimately true.For effort, nothing to do,
Other than practice continuously.For meditative stability, nothing to do,
Other than rest in presence.For wisdom, nothing to do,
Other than know directly how things are.
Shedding ideas about how things should be ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheWhen I began to recognize the emptiness and clarity of my own mind, my life became richer and more vivid in ways I never could have imagined. Once I shed my ideas about how things should be, I became free to respond to my experience exactly as it was and exactly as I was, right there, right then.
The most important point of Buddha’s teachings ~ Gyaltsab Rinpoche
Gyaltsab RinpocheWhen you suffer, if you take that not just as your own suffering but rather as the nature of samsara, then you are understanding the most important point of Buddha’s teachings.
To be free of all authority ~ Krishnamurti
KrishnamurtiTo be free of all authority, of your own and that of another, is to die to everything of yesterday, so that your mind is always fresh, always young, innocent, full of vigour and passion. It is only in that state that one learns and observes. And for this, a great deal of awareness is required, actual awareness of what is going on inside yourself, without correcting it or telling it what it should or should not be, because the moment you correct it you have established another authority, a censor.
The trouble maker ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheThe particular thing that has created the problems of life is the dissatisfied mind of desire, which clings first of all to this life, seeking only the temporary happiness of this life, and then to these eight objects: having comfort, not having discomfort, receiving materials (such as friends and so forth), not liking not to receive materials, having a good reputation, not having a reputation, receiving praise, not having criticism. The dissatisfied mind of desire clings to these eight objects.
The mutual dance of love ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIn the mahayana, love and affection are largely based on free love, open love which does not ask anything in return. It is a mutual dance. Even if during the dance you step on each other’s toes, it is not regarded as problematic or an insult. We do not have to get on our high horse or be touchy about that. To learn to love, to learn to open, is one of the hardest things of all for us.